LEWISTON — The way Wednesday’s lacrosse game was going, the two-goal lead that Bates held after three quarters wasn’t likely to remain.

The Bobcats and Bowdoin were engaged in a back-and-forth battle at Garcelon Field and just when one team seemed to seize momentum, the other would make its own charge.

So after a strong third quarter that put the Bates back ahead, a Polar Bear response seemed likely.

Bowdoin answered with three straight goals in the final quarter, including the tie-breaker with 2:07 left in regulation. That Tyler Williams tally, his second in a row, lifted the Polar Bears to a 11-10 win over Bates.

“It was never a matter of if we could do it,” said Williams, who finished with three goals, including three of Bowdoin’s final four. “It was just more about getting opportunities. We were getting opportunities in the third, and their goalie came out hot. We just kept plugging away. Typically, when we play fast, team’s have trouble stopping us.”

With the game tied for the much of the final 10 minutes, Bates had numerous chances at taking the lead, especially after a pair of Bowdoin turnovers. The Bobcats had a pair of late chances as well to tie it.

“We got a couple of great opportunities late,” said Bates coach Peter Lasagna, whose team had won two straight prior to Wednesday’s loss. “We had the guys we wanted taking those shots. Their goalie made a couple of big saves. It was what we told them it was going to be — two really good teams going at it at night in Lewiston, Maine.”

Bowdoin (8-2) also got two goals and an assist from Dan Hanley. Goalie Connor Laughlin made 11 saves, including a key one late as Jack Allard had a try  with 33 seconds left. It was the third straight win for the Polar Bears, which are 5-1 in the conference. Bates is 1-5 in the NESCAC.

“They’re a tough team,” Lasagna said. “That’s the No. 20 team in the country. Williams made a couple of huge plays for them.”

Bates got three goals and two assists from Allard while Jack Strain  had a pair of goals. Evan Chen finished with three assists. Charlie Kazarian and Joe Faria combined to make eight saves in net for the Bobcats (4-5).

Bowdoin got within one with 12:08 left when Franklin Reis scored. He came from around the net to make it 10-9. Then less than two minutes later, Williams netted his second of the game. He bounced off a hit from a defender and fired home a shot with 10:36 left to tie it.

Both teams had chances to break the tie. Bates took a time out with 8:50 left and Bowdoin followed with their own time out with 7:17 left but neither huddles led to a lead. After Bowdoin turned the ball over with 6:20 left, Bates created a nice opportunity for Charlie Fay but his shot was saved.

Bowdoin turned the ball over again with 3:58 left. Bates created a pair of chances from Chen but Laughlin made stops on both. Bowdoin got the ball back for another opportunity with regulation winding down.

“We were battling back-and-forth,” Williams said. “Given how everything was going, you just had to be aggressive and take it to the goal. I just let it fly and it worked out.”

Williams turned and ripped a shot into the net, not far from where his previous goal came from, just to the right of the middle. It put Bowdoin up 11-10 with 2:07 remaining.

“We had a lot of confidence between all of us,” Williams said. “We just kept plugging way. We knew eventually one would fall.”

Bates set up an Allard shot from the right side that Laughlin saved in the final minute. Then a Bowdoin turnover behind the Bates net gave the Bobcats one last try. Bates had the rush the ball down field and got a shot off in the final seconds but it was wide.

“My goalie made a great play late to get the ball away from them,” Lasagna said. “We got a shot kind of late.”

Bates built a 3-1 lead in the first quarter on goals by Chen, Kyle Weber and Conor Henrie. Bowdoin answered with a strong second, taking a 7-6 lead into the half.

Will Wise, Peter Reuter and Hanley each had a goal and an assist for the Polar Bears, which opened a 7-5 lead in the second. Bates got a late tally from Strain with 11 seconds left in the half to get the Bobcats within one.

Then in the third, Bates got goals from Mac Jackson, Allard and Fay to make it 9-7. Bowdoin got a Williams tally with 5:55 left, but Allard finished off the quarter with 5:09 remaining, giving Bates a 10-8 entering the fourth.

“We’ve had some really good third quarters the last three or four times out,” Lasagna said. “Hopefully that’s a pattern.”

kmills@sunjournal.com